A SERIAL drink-driver was nearly four times over the legal limit when he lost control of his car and crashed into a hedge.

Phillip Martin Saunders, 26, of Heath Lane, Wincham, had just left a house party when he swerved off the road, crashing into a hedge on Pickmere Lane in North-wich at about 5am on Sunday last week.

Sue Gibson, prosecuting, said: 'Officers saw the defendant walking away from his car into a neighbouring garden. They caught Saunders and questioned him, but he denied any knowledge of the incident.

'They carried out a breath test, and the reading gave an alcohol level of 130 micro-grammes per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35. Saunders was arrested, and later admitted everything.'

The court heard how Saunders, who has had three previous drink-driving convictions in the past 10 years, had been driving to buy cigarettes from a garage when he lost control of the car. He had only got his driving licence back at the start of 2005 after a three-year driving ban.

Tim Edgeley, defending, said: 'My client comes before the court humbly. He knows the alcohol reading was very high, and he knows he's in for some real difficulty. He clearly has no idea of the effect alcohol has on his body, and he needs to be shown where he is going wrong.'

Chairman of the bench Moira Chapman told Saunders:'You committed the of-fence recklessly and you knew the likely outcome.'

Saunders admitted driving when the level of alcohol in his system exceeded the legal limit. Sentencing was postponed to September 8, so a full report can be drawn up and, in the meantime, Saunders was given an interim driving ban.